At Drone Scotland, we consistently monitor the current and future market in which we operate. Our business was established in 2016, and over the last 9 years, we’ve seen a huge amount of change in the UK drone industry. The industry is still considered at an embryonic stage with lots of uncertainty, risk, ambition, and a fragmented community. But, is it evolving? The following article is our take on the health of the market.
1. Change in the UK drone industry
Change is a constant in our sector, with continuous evolution being a hallmark of our field. Some changes have proven beneficial, while the impact of others remains to be seen. Advancements in hardware and software are apparent, with technology driving the true potential of our industry forward. However, technological advancements often outpace policy and legislation. Innovations such as the ‘drone in a box’ solution exemplify how the industry might evolve in the future—a future that could manifest in 12, 24, 48, 96 months, or beyond.
PwC attempted to forecast the future in their ‘Skies Without Limits’ reports. The initial SWL1.0 predictions, made in 2018, suggested that drones could contribute £45bn to the UK economy and create 650,000 jobs by 2030. Currently, this figure appears overly optimistic. PwC has since published SWL2.0 in July 2022 and SWL3.0 in September 2024, with the latter report addressing barriers to growth, case studies, and organisational summaries more comprehensively than SWL1.0. It remains unclear whether PwC’s forecasts were inaccurate or if other factors have impeded industry progress. The answer is complex, and it is uncertain if PwC’s analysis based on a few major players provides a reliable measure of industry trends.
2. The four categories of the UK drone industry
We see the industry broken down into 4 main categories:
- Do’ers. People and organisations physically operating drones daily and delivering data to drive revenue, safety, efficiencies and reduce pollution.
- Policy experts. People and organisations mastering or writing legislation.
- Training companies that either write operation manuals or train future pilots.
- Manufacturers and developers.
Categories 2, 3, and 4 support category 1. Without successful Do’ers, these categories disappear, risking industry collapse. However, Do’ers are often fragmented and uncertain about the industry’s direction.
3. Legistlative changes and technological advances
A significant change occurred in December 2020 with the removal of the term “commercial drone operation.” Prior to this change, all commercial drone flights required specific qualifications and commercial insurance. After this date, individuals were permitted to operate drones for payment without these prerequisites. Shortly thereafter, DJI introduced a 249g drone, allowing individuals without training, insurance, or experience to fly the lightweight drone in most locations within the UK, except for restricted zones such as airports.
The outcome of these legislative changes and technological advances has certainly promoted the sale and use of drones as commercial tools. However, did it help evolve the industry? In our assessment, it did not. Instead, we have observed a decline in the industry’s standards. Before December 2020, the growth of professional pilots was significant and could be measured by the number of individuals and companies obtaining Operational Authorisations from the CAA. At its peak, there were 5,670 such authorisations in 2019. Each authorisation required pilots to be trained to national standards, possess operational manuals, carry commercial insurance, and maintain comprehensive documentation of their operations, including pre- and post-flight procedures. By 2024, this number had decreased to 2,990, which is a considerable reduction. It is important to note that the industry forecast projected 650,000 people would be employed by 2030. The decrease in the number of professional pilots does not align with the anticipated growth.
We often see experienced pilots leaving the industry or not renewing their Operational Authorisation on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and X. They are opting for 249g drones, which require no paperwork, insurance, training, or operation manuals. This trend suggests industry regression rather than evolution.
4. Illegal drone operations
Alongside these changes, it has become apparent that numerous drones are being operated illegally without insurance, training, or appropriate permissions. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) does not hold operators or pilots without CAA permission accountable, as the CAA only has jurisdiction over those pilots to whom it issues permissions. Instead, the responsibility for addressing illegal drone flights falls to the Police. It is widely acknowledged that the Police will prioritize and investigate only the most serious drone-related offenses, given their limited resources and funding constraints. Consequently, they cannot respond to every instance of illegal drone operation.
This situation adversely affects the professional industry. The airspace is increasingly populated with drones flown by untrained, uninsured, and potentially unsafe operators who act without consequence. A simple search on social media platforms, such as Facebook, reveals numerous examples of such activity. This issue poses significant challenges to the ongoing advancement and professionalisation of the industry.
Some responsibility may be placed on the customer to ensure they only allow qualified operators to fly at their sites. This is already implemented in the USA and is overseen by the FAA, their equivalent of the CAA. In the USA, it is illegal to instruct a drone pilot to perform work unless they meet national qualifications. The UK has similar schemes for gas engineers, so a similar approach for drone operators could be considered to promote industry standards and enhance safety.
5. SORA – Specific Operations Risk Assessment
In the United Kingdom, we are transitioning to a new methodology known as Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA). SORA will replace the current CAP 722A Operational Risk Assessment method. We are still in the process of fully understanding this new approach. Fortunately, there is a transitional period during which we can continue to operate under existing regulations for both our PDRA01 permission and our highly valued OSC permission. The latter allows Drone Scotland to legally operate in environments that fewer than 0.05% of UK operators are authorized to access.
This initiative has been presented as a step forward, and at Drone Scotland, we anticipate it will be. Ensuring airspace and ground safety is paramount, but this must be achieved in a manner that advances the industry. As AI continues to support our operations, it is crucial to back the efforts of those actively contributing to progress. It is the work of the Do’ers that is indispensable for the industry’s success.
6. BVLOS – Beyond Viusual Line of Sight
The next big step for the market with be BVLOS.
The UK has been actively working on integrating Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations into its airspace system. BVLOS allows drones to operate without being in the direct sight of the operator, opening up opportunities for applications like medical supply transport, postal deliveries, and offshore surveillance.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has developed policies and operational pathways for BVLOS operations. Operators must obtain specific authorizations and approvals to carry out BVLOS flights, and the CAA provides guidance and support to help them navigate the regulatory framework. Additionally, initiatives like the “Future Flight Challenge” and projects such as “Skyway” are advancing BVLOS capabilities, including the development of a drone superhighway3.
For further information on Drone Services at Drone Scotland, contact our team at office@dronescotland.com or 0131 203 3077.
